IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,869,431
Granted Patent B2
US 8,869,431 · App. 13/211,050 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Sandal with pneumatic support

Inventor: Vito Dimatteo (West Harrison, NY)
A43B3/128A43B7/1465A43B3/108A43B7/142A43B7/143A43B13/203
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,869,431
App. No.
13/211,050
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The sandal with pneumatic support includes an inflatable bladder in the sole, in the area immediately beneath the arch of the foot when the sandal is worn. A manual air pump is provided integrally with the sandal. In one embodiment, the pump is located atop the toe divider of a flip-flop type sandal. In another embodiment, the pump is located in the heel. A pressure relief valve is located along one of the upper straps of the sandal. The arch bladder, air pump, and relief valve communicate pneumatically with one another. The sandal may be devoid of structure extending between the toes when worn, but may include straps passing over and/or around the foot. The sandal provides greatly improved support and reduces or eliminates muscular problems resulting from the lack of arch support in sandals.

Claims (52)

1. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a pneumatically distensible bladder disposed within the arch area of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder, the air pump being permanently and integrally connected to the bladder;

a pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder; and

a plurality of foot-securing straps extending from the periphery of the sole, at least one of the straps having an air passage disposed therein, the bladder, the air pump, and the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with one another by means of the air passage in the at least one of the straps.

2. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage disposed therethrough, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed atop the toe divider and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

3. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage extending at least partially therethrough, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed in the heel portion of the sole and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

4. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

5. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

6. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

7. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

8. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having an air passage disposed therethrough;

a pneumatically distensible bladder disposed within the arch area of the core of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump disposed atop the toe divider and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, the air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap; and

a pressure relief valve disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap.

9. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 8 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

10. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 8 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

11. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 8 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

12. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 8 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

13. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having an air passage extending at least partially therethrough;

a pneumatically distensible bladder disposed within the arch area of the core of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump disposed in the heel portion of the sole and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, the air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder; and

a pressure relief valve disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap.

14. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 13 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

15. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 13 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

16. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 13 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

17. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 13 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

18. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage extending at least partially therethrough, the second foot-securing strap being solid; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

19. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprise at least a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage disposed therethrough, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed in said first foot-securing strap and at a front portion of said sandal and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

20. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprise a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage disposed therethrough, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed atop the intersection of said first and said second foot-securing strap and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with the bladder through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with the bladder and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61376089 · Aug 23, 2010
Related Publication 20120042537A1 · Feb 23, 2012